SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
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CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
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Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): May 17, 1999
VIACOM INC.
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 1-9553 04-2949533
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(State or other (Commission (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of File Number) Identification No.)
incorporation)
1515 Broadway, New York, New York 10036
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (212) 258-6000
Item 5. Other Events.
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On May 17, 1999, Viacom Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Viacom") and
Spelling Entertainment Group Inc. ("Spelling") announced that they have entered
into a definitive merger agreement for the purchase by Viacom of the shares of
Spelling common stock that it does not already own for $9.75 per share in cash.
The merger agreement provides for the commencement of a tender offer
by Viacom by Friday, May 21, 1999. Under the terms of the merger agreement, each
Spelling share that is not purchased in the offer will be acquired by merger as
soon as practical thereafter in a second step merger, also for $9.75 per share.
A copy of the Merger Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.
A copy of the press release issued by Viacom, May 17, 1999, relating
to the above-described transaction is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2.
Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
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(c) The following exhibit is filed as part of this report on Form 8-K:
99.1 Agreement and Plan of Merger among Viacom International
Inc., VSEG Acquisition Inc. and Spelling Entertainment Group
Inc., dated as of May 17, 1999.
99.2 Press Release issued by Viacom dated May 17, 1999.
SIGNATURE
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
VIACOM INC.
Date: May 17, 1999 By: /s/ Michael D. Fricklas
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Name: Michael D. Fricklas
Title: Senior Vice President,
General Counsel and Secretary
EXHIBIT INDEX
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Exhibit No. Description
99.1 Agreement and Plan of Merger among Viacom
International Inc., VSEG Acquisition Inc. and
Spelling Entertainment Group Inc., dated as of May
17, 1999.
99.2 Press Release issued by Viacom dated May 17, 1999.
EXHIBIT 99.1
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EXECUTION COPY
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
Among
VIACOM INTERNATIONAL INC.,
VSEG ACQUISITION INC.
and
SPELLING ENTERTAINMENT GROUP INC.
Dated as of May 17, 1999
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I
THE OFFER
SECTION 1.01. The Offer 2
SECTION 1.02. Company Action 3
ARTICLE II
THE MERGER
SECTION 2.01. The Merger 4
SECTION 2.02. Closing 4
SECTION 2.03. Effective Time 4
SECTION 2.04. Effect of the Merger 4
SECTION 2.05. Certificate of Incorporation; By-laws 4
SECTION 2.06. Directors and Officers 5
SECTION 2.07. Conversion of Securities 5
SECTION 2.08. Stock Options 5
SECTION 2.09. Dissenting Shares 6
SECTION 2.10. Surrender of Shares; Stock Transfer Books 6
SECTION 2.11. Withholding Rights 8
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
SECTION 3.01. Organization and Qualification 8
SECTION 3.02. Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws 8
SECTION 3.03. Capitalization 9
SECTION 3.04. Authority Relative to This Agreement 9
SECTION 3.05. No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents 10
SECTION 3.06. SEC Filings; Financial Statements 10
SECTION 3.07. Absence of Litigation 11
SECTION 3.08. Compliance 11
SECTION 3.09. Intellectual Property Rights 11
SECTION 3.10. Offer Documents; Schedule 14D-9; Proxy Statement 12
SECTION 3.11. Brokers 12
SECTION 3.12. Opinion of Financial Advisor 12
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND PURCHASER
SECTION 4.01. Corporate Organization 13
SECTION 4.02. Authority Relative to This Agreement 13
SECTION 4.03. No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents 13
SECTION 4.04. Financing 14
SECTION 4.05. Offer Documents; Proxy Statement 14
SECTION 4.06. Brokers 14
ARTICLE V
COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
SECTION 5.01. Affirmative Covenants of the Company 14
ARTICLE VI
ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
SECTION 6.01. Stockholders' Meeting 15
SECTION 6.02. Proxy Statement 15
SECTION 6.03. Access to Information 15
SECTION 6.04. Directors' and Officers' Indemnification and Insurance 16
SECTION 6.05. Notification of Certain Matters 17
SECTION 6.06. Public Announcements 17
SECTION 6.07. Further Action 18
ARTICLE VII
CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER
SECTION 7.01. Conditions to the Merger 18
ARTICLE VIII
TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER
SECTION 8.01. Termination 18
SECTION 8.02. Effect of Termination 20
SECTION 8.03. Amendment 20
SECTION 8.04. Waiver 20
ARTICLE IX
GENERAL PROVISIONS
SECTION 9.01. Non-Survival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements 21
SECTION 9.02. Notices 21
SECTION 9.03. Certain Definitions 22
SECTION 9.04. Severability 22
SECTION 9.05. Entire Agreement; Assignment 22
SECTION 9.06. Parties in Interest 23
SECTION 9.07. Specific Performance 23
SECTION 9.08. Governing Law 23
SECTION 9.09. Headings 23
SECTION 9.10. Counterparts 23
SECTION 9.11. Fees and Expenses 23
ANNEX A
CONDITIONS TO THE OFFER
ANNEX A - CONDITIONS TO THE OFFER
EXHIBIT A - CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF THE SURVIVING CORPORATION
Glossary of Defined Terms
(Not Part of this Agreement)
Location
of
Defined Term Definition
affiliate ss.9.03
Agreement Preamble
Blue Sky Laws ss.3.05(b)
business day ss.9.03
Certificate of Merger ss.2.03
Certificates ss.2.10(b)
Code ss.2.11
Company Preamble
Company Material Adverse Effect 3.01(a)
Delaware Law Recitals
Disclosure Schedule Art. III
Dissenting Shares ss.2.09(a)
Effective Time ss.2.03
Encumbrance ss.9.03
Exchange Act Recitals
Exchange Fund ss.2.10
Indemnified Parties ss.6.04(b)
Intellectual Property ss. 3.09
Lazard Freres Recitals
Merger Recitals
Merger Consideration ss.2.07(a)
1999 Balance Sheet ss.3.06(c)
Offer Recitals
Offer Documents ss. 1.01(b)
Offer to Purchase ss. 1.01(b)
Option ss. 2.08
Option Plans ss.2.08
Parent Preamble
Paying Agent ss.2.10(a)
Per Share Amount Recitals
person ss.9.03
Preferred Stock ss.3.03
Proxy Statement ss. 3.10
Purchaser Preamble
Purchaser Shares Recitals
Schedule 13E-3 ss.1.01(b)
Schedule 14D-1 ss.1.01(b)
Schedule 14D-9 ss.1.02(a)
SEC ss.1.01(a)
SEC Reports ss.3.06(a)
Securities Act ss.3.06(a)
Shares Recitals
Special Committee Recitals
Stockholders' Meeting ss.6.01
Subsidiary ss.9.03
Surviving Corporation ss.2.01
Tender Offer Acceptance Date ss.2.08(a)
Transactions ss.1.01(b)
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, dated as of May 17, 1999 (this
"Agreement"), among VIACOM INTERNATIONAL INC., a Delaware corporation
("Parent"), VSEG ACQUISITION INC., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned
subsidiary of Parent ("Purchaser"), and SPELLING ENTERTAINMENT GROUP INC., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company").
WHEREAS, Parent beneficially owns an aggregate of 75,216,103 shares
(the "Purchaser Shares") of common stock, par value $.001 per share ("Shares"),
of the Company, constituting approximately 80% of the total outstanding Shares,
and has proposed to the special committee of the Board of Directors of the
Company (the "Special Committee"), that Purchaser acquire the remaining Shares;
WHEREAS, immediately prior to the Effective Time (as defined below)
Parent will contribute the Purchaser Shares to Purchaser;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") and the
Special Committee have determined that it is in the best interests of the
Company to approve Purchaser's proposed acquisition and have voted (i) to
recommend that the stockholders of the Company accept the Offer (as defined
below) and tender their Shares pursuant to the Offer and (ii)to approve and deem
advisable the merger (the "Merger") of Purchaser with and into the Company, with
the Company being the surviving corporation, in accordance with the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware "Delaware Law") following consummation
of the Offer;
WHEREAS, it is proposed that Purchaser will make a cash tender offer
(the "Offer") in compliance with Section 14(d)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder, to acquire all the issued and outstanding Shares (other
than the Purchaser Shares) for $9.75 per Share (such amount, or any greater
amount per Share paid pursuant to the Offer, being hereinafter referred to as
the "Per Share Amount"), net to the seller in cash, upon the terms and subject
to the conditions of this Agreement; and that the Offer will be followed by the
Merger, pursuant to which each issued and outstanding Share not owned by
Purchaser will be converted into the right to receive the Per Share Amount, upon
the terms and subject to the conditions provided herein; and
WHEREAS, the Special Committee has received the opinion of Lazard
Freres & Co. LLC ("Lazard Freres") that the consideration to be received by the
holders of Shares (other than Parent and its subsidiaries) pursuant to the Offer
and the Merger is fair to such holders from a financial point of view;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual
covenants and agreements herein contained, and intending to be legally bound
hereby, Parent, Purchaser and the Company hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
THE OFFER
SECTION 1.01. The Offer. (a) Provided that this Agreement shall not
have been terminated in accordance with Section 8.01 and none of the events set
forth in Annex A hereto shall have occurred or be existing, Purchaser shall
commence, and Parent shall cause Purchaser to commence, within the meaning of
Rule 14d-2 under the Exchange Act, the Offer as promptly as reasonably
practicable after the date hereof, but in no event later than five business days
after the initial public announcement of Purchaser's intention to commence the
Offer. The obligation of Purchaser to accept for payment and pay for Shares
tendered pursuant to the Offer shall be subject only to the satisfaction of the
conditions set forth in Annex A hereto. Purchaser expressly reserves the right
to waive any such condition, to increase the Per Share Amount and to make any
other changes in the terms and conditions of the Offer; provided, however, that,
without the prior written consent of the Special Committee, Purchaser will not
(i) decrease the Per Share Amount, (ii)reduce the maximum number of Shares to be
purchased in the Offer, (iii) change the form of the consideration payable in
the Offer, (iv)add to, modify or supplement the conditions to the Offer set
forth in Annex A hereto, (v) extend the expiration date of the Offer beyond the
twentieth business day following commencement thereof; provided, however,
Purchaser may extend the expiration date of the Offer, (A) if the conditions to
the Offer set forth in Annex A have not been satisfied, (B) to the extent
necessary to respond to comments on the Offer Documents (as defined below) from
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and (C) on one additional
occasion, for a period not to exceed ten business days or (vi)make any other
change in the terms or conditions of the Offer which is materially adverse to
the holders of Shares. The Per Share Amount shall, subject to any applicable
withholding of taxes, be net to each seller in cash, upon the terms and subject
to the conditions of the Offer. Subject to the terms and conditions of the
Offer, Purchaser shall, and Parent shall cause Purchaser to, accept for payment
and pay, as promptly as practicable after expiration of the Offer, for all
Shares validly tendered and not withdrawn.
(b) On the date of commencement of the Offer, Parent and Purchaser
shall file with the SEC (i) a Tender Offer Statement on Schedule 14D-1,
including all exhibits thereto (together with all amendments and supplements
thereto, the "Schedule 14D-1"), with respect to the Offer and (ii) a Rule 13e-3
Transaction Statement on Schedule 13E-3, including all exhibits thereto
(together with all amendments and supplements thereto, the "Schedule 13E-3"),
with respect to the Offer and the other transactions contemplated hereby (the
"Transactions"). The Schedule 14D-1 and the Schedule 13E-3 shall contain or
shall incorporate by reference an offer to purchase (the "Offer to Purchase")
and the related letter of transmittal and any related summary advertisement (the
Schedule 14D-1, the Schedule 13E-3, the Offer to Purchase and such other
documents, together with all supplements and amendments thereto, being referred
to herein collectively as the "Offer Documents"). Parent, Purchaser and the
Company shall correct promptly any information provided by any of them for use
in the Offer Documents which shall become false or misleading, and Parent and
Purchaser shall take all steps necessary to cause the Schedule 14D-1 and the
Schedule 13E-3, as so corrected, to be filed with the SEC and the other Offer
Documents, as so corrected, to be disseminated to holders of Shares, in each
case as and to the extent required by applicable Law (as defined below). The
Company, the Special Committee and their respective counsel shall be given the
reasonable opportunity to review and comment on the Offer Documents prior to the
filing thereof with the SEC. Parent and Purchaser shall provide the Company, the
Special Committee and their respective counsel with a copy of any written
comments or telephonic notification of any oral comments Parent or Purchaser may
receive from the SEC or its staff with respect to the Offer Documents promptly
after the receipt thereof. Parent and its counsel shall provide the Company, the
Special Committee and their respective counsel with a reasonable opportunity to
participate in all communications with the SEC and its staff, including any
meetings and telephone conferences, relating to the Offer Documents, the
Transactions or this Agreement. In the event that the Parent or the Purchaser
receives any comments from the SEC or its staff with respect to the Offer
Documents, each shall use its reasonable best efforts to respond promptly to
such comments and take all other actions necessary to resolve the issues raised
therein.
(c) Parent shall provide or cause to be provided to Purchaser on a
timely basis the funds necessary to accept for payment, and pay for, any Shares
that Purchaser becomes obligated to accept for payment, and pay for, pursuant to
the Offer.
SECTION 1.02. Company Action. (a) As soon as reasonably practicable on
the date of commencement of the Offer, the Company shall file with the SEC a
Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9, including all exhibits
thereto (together with all amendments and supplements thereto, the "Schedule
14D-9"), containing the recommendations of the Special Committee and the Board
described in Section 3.04(b), and shall disseminate the Schedule 14D-9 to the
extent required by Rule 14d-9 under the Exchange Act, and any other applicable
Law. The Company, Parent and Purchaser shall correct promptly any information
provided by any of them for use in the Schedule 14D-9 which shall become false
or misleading, and the Company shall take all steps necessary to cause the
Schedule 14D-9, as so corrected, to be filed with the SEC and disseminated to
holders of Shares, in each case as and to the extent required by applicable Law.
Parent and its counsel shall be given the opportunity to review and comment on
the Schedule 14D-9 prior to the filing thereof with the SEC. The Company shall
provide Parent and its counsel with a copy of any written comments or telephonic
notification of any oral comments the Company may receive from the SEC or its
staff with respect to the Schedule 14D-9 promptly after the receipt thereof. The
Company and its counsel shall provide Parent and its counsel with a reasonable
opportunity to participate in all communications with the SEC and its staff,
including any meetings and telephone conferences, relating to the Schedule14D-9,
the Transactions or this Agreement.
(b) In connection with the Transactions, the Company shall furnish, or
cause to be furnished, Purchaser promptly with mailing labels containing the
names and addresses of the record holders of Shares as of a recent date and of
those persons becoming record holders subsequent to such date, together with
copies of all lists of shareholders, security position listings and computer
files and all other information in the Company's possession or control regarding
the beneficial owners of Shares, and shall furnish to Purchaser such information
and assistance (including updated lists of shareholders, security position
listings and computer files) as Parent may reasonably request in communicating
the Offer to the Company's shareholders. Subject to the requirements of
applicable law, and except for such steps as are necessary to disseminate the
Offer Documents and any other documents necessary to consummate the Merger,
Parent and Purchaser and their agents shall hold in confidence the information
contained in any such labels, listings and files, will use such information only
in connection with the Offer and the Merger and, if this Agreement shall be
terminated, will deliver, and will use their reasonable efforts to cause their
agents to deliver, to the Company all copies and any extracts or summaries from
such information then in their possession or control.
ARTICLE II
THE MERGER
SECTION 2.01. The Merger. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions
set forth in this Agreement, and in accordance with Delaware Law, at the
Effective Time (as hereinafter defined) Purchaser shall be merged with and into
the Company. As a result of the Merger, the separate corporate existence of
Purchaser shall cease and the Company shall continue as the surviving
corporation of the Merger (the "Surviving Corporation").
SECTION 2.02. Closing. Unless this Agreement shall have been
terminated and the transactions herein contemplated shall have been abandoned
pursuant to Section 7.01 and subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the
conditions set forth in Article VII, the consummation of the Merger will take
place as promptly as practicable (and in any event within two business days)
after the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Article VII at
the offices of Shearman & Sterling, 599 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York,
unless another date, time or place is agreed to in writing by the parties
hereto.
SECTION 2.03. Effective Time. As promptly as practicable after the
satisfaction or, if permissible, waiver of the conditions set forth in
ArticleVII, the parties hereto shall cause the Merger to be consummated by
filing a certificate of merger (the "Certificate of Merger") with the Secretary
of State of the State of Delaware, in such form as is required by, and executed
in accordance with the relevant provisions of, Delaware Law (the date and time
of such filing being the "Effective Time").
SECTION 2.04. Effect of the Merger. At the Effective Time, the effect
of the Merger shall be as provided in the applicable provisions of Delaware Law.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, at the
Effective Time all the property, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of
the Company and Purchaser shall vest in the Surviving Corporation, and all
debts, liabilities, obligations, restrictions, disabilities and duties of the
Company and Purchaser shall become the debts, liabilities, obligations,
restrictions, disabilities and duties of the Surviving Corporation.
SECTION 2.05. Certificate of Incorporation; By-laws. (a) At the
Effective Time, the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as in effect
immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be amended as set forth in
Exhibit A. The Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as so amended at the
Effective Time, shall be the Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving
Corporation until thereafter amended as provided by law and such Certificate of
Incorporation.
(b) The By-laws of Purchaser, as in effect immediately prior to the
Effective Time, shall be the By-laws of the Surviving Corporation until
thereafter amended as provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation of the
Surviving Corporation and such By-laws.
SECTION 2.06. Directors and Officers. The directors of Purchaser
immediately prior to the Effective Time (which shall include Aaron Spelling)
shall be the initial directors of the Surviving Corporation, each to hold office
in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws of the Surviving
Corporation. Aaron Spelling shall be the Chairman of the Surviving Corporation
and the other officers of the Company immediately prior to the Effective Time
shall be the initial officers of the Surviving Corporation, in each case until
their respective successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified.
SECTION 2.07. Conversion of Securities. At the Effective Time, by
virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of Purchaser, the
Company or the holders of any of the following securities:
(a) Each Share issued and outstanding immediately prior to the
Effective Time (other than any Shares to be cancelled pursuant to Section2.07(b)
and any Dissenting Shares (as hereinafter defined)) shall be cancelled and shall
be converted automatically into the right to receive an amount equal to the Per
Share Amount in cash (the "Merger Consideration") payable, without interest, to
the holder of such Share, upon surrender, in the manner provided in Section
2.10, of the certificate that formerly evidenced such Share;
(b) Each Share owned by Purchaser immediately prior to the Effective
Time shall be cancelled without any conversion thereof and no payment or
distribution shall be made with respect thereto; and
(c) Each share of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of Purchaser
issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be
converted into and exchanged for one validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable share of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Surviving
Corporation.
SECTION 2.08. Stock Options. (a) The Company shall take all actions
necessary (including obtaining any and all consents from employees with respect
to matters contemplated by this Section 2.08) such that immediately after the
Tender Offer Acceptance Date, each outstanding option to purchase Shares (in
each case, an "Option") granted under the Company's stock option plans,
including, The Charter Company Stock Option Plan, The Spelling Entertainment
Group Inc. 1987 Stock Option Plan and The Spelling Entertainment Group Inc. 1994
Stock Option Plan (the "Option Plans"), whether or not then exercisable, shall
be cancelled by the Company. Immediately after the Tender Offer Acceptance Date,
each holder of a cancelled Option shall be entitled to receive from Purchaser in
consideration for the cancellation of such Option, an amount in cash equal to
the product of (i)the number of Shares previously subject to such Option and
(ii) the excess, if any, of the Per Share Amount over the exercise price per
Share previously subject to such Option. All applicable withholding taxes
attributable to the payments made hereunder or to distributions contemplated
hereby shall be deducted from the amounts payable hereunder and all such taxes
attributable to the exercise of Options on or after the Effective Time shall be
withheld from the Merger Consideration with respect to the Shares issuable on
such exercise or deemed exercise. The term "Tender Offer Acceptance Date" means
the date on which Purchaser shall have accepted for payment all Shares validly
tendered and not withdrawn prior to the expiration date with respect to the
Offer.
(b) Except as provided herein or as otherwise agreed to by the parties
hereto and to the extent permitted under the Option Plans, (i) the Option Plans
shall terminate as of the Effective Time and (ii) the Company shall use all
reasonable efforts to ensure that following the Effective Time no holder of
Options shall have any right thereunder to acquire any equity securities of the
Company.
SECTION 2.09. Dissenting Shares. (a) Notwithstanding any provision of
this Agreement to the contrary, Shares that are outstanding immediately prior to
the Effective Time and which are held by stockholders who shall have not voted
in favor of the Merger or consented thereto in writing and who shall have
demanded properly in writing appraisal for such Shares in accordance with
Section 262 of Delaware Law (collectively, the "Dissenting Shares") shall not be
converted into or represent the right to receive the Merger Consideration. Such
stockholders shall be entitled to receive payment of the appraised value of such
Shares held by them in accordance with the provisions of such Section 262,
except that all Dissenting Shares held by stockholders who shall have failed to
perfect or who effectively shall have withdrawn or lost their rights to
appraisal of such Shares under such Section 262 shall thereupon be deemed to
have been converted into and to have become exchangeable for, as of the
Effective Time, the right to receive the Merger Consideration, without any
interest thereon, upon surrender, in the manner provided in Section 2.10, of the
certificate or certificates that formerly evidenced such Shares.
(b) The Company shall give Parent (i) prompt notice of any demands for
appraisal received by the Company, withdrawals of such demands, and any other
instruments served pursuant to Delaware Law and received by the Company and (ii)
the opportunity to direct all negotiations and proceedings with respect to
demands for appraisal under Delaware Law. The Company shall not, except with the
prior written consent of Parent, make any payment with respect to any demands
for appraisal or offer to settle or settle any such demands.
SECTION 2.10. Surrender of Shares; Stock Transfer Books. (a) Prior to
the Effective Time, Parent shall designate a bank or trust company reasonably
satisfactory to the Company to act as agent (the "Paying Agent") for the holders
of Shares in connection with the Merger to receive the funds to which holders of
Shares shall become entitled pursuant to Section2.07(a). When and as needed,
Parent shall make available to the Paying Agent sufficient funds to make the
payments pursuant to Section 2.07 hereof to holders (other than Parent or any of
its affiliates) of Shares that are issued and outstanding immediately prior to
the Effective Time (such amounts being hereinafter referred to as the "Exchange
Fund"), and to make the appropriate cash payments, if any, to holders of
Dissenting Shares. The Paying Agent shall, pursuant to irrevocable instructions,
make the payments provided for in the preceding sentence out of the Exchange
Fund. The Exchange Fund shall not be used for any other purpose, except as
provided in this Agreement.
(b) Promptly after the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall
cause to be mailed to each person who was, at the Effective Time, a holder of
record of Shares entitled to receive the Merger Consideration pursuant to
Section 2.07(a) a form of letter of transmittal in customary form (which shall
specify that delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to the
certificates evidencing such Shares (the "Certificates"), shall pass, only upon
proper delivery of the Certificates to the Paying Agent) and instructions for
use in effecting the surrender of the Certificates pursuant to such letter of
transmittal. Upon surrender to the Paying Agent of a Certificate, together with
such letter of transmittal, duly completed and validly executed in accordance
with the instructions thereto, and such other documents as may be required
pursuant to such instructions, the holder of such Certificate shall be entitled
to receive in exchange therefor the Merger Consideration for each Share formerly
evidenced by such Certificate, and such Certificate shall then be canceled. No
interest shall accrue or be paid on the Merger Consideration payable upon the
surrender of any Certificate for the benefit of the holder of such Certificate.
If payment of the Merger Consideration is to be made to a person other than the
person in whose name the surrendered Certificate is registered on the stock
transfer books of the Company, it shall be a condition of payment that the
Certificate so surrendered shall be endorsed properly or otherwise be in proper
form for transfer and that the person requesting such payment shall have paid
all transfer and other taxes required by reason of the payment of the Merger
Consideration to a person other than the registered holder of the Certificate
surrendered or shall have established to the satisfaction of the Surviving
Corporation that such taxes either have been paid or are not applicable.
(c) At any time following the sixth month after the Effective Time,
the Surviving Corporation shall be entitled to require the Paying Agent to
deliver to it any funds which had been made available to the Paying Agent and
not disbursed to holders of Shares (including, without limitation, all interest
and other income received by the Paying Agent in respect of all funds made
available to it), and thereafter such holders shall be entitled to look to the
Surviving Corporation (subject to abandoned property, escheat and other similar
laws) only as general creditors thereof with respect to any Merger Consideration
that may be payable upon due surrender of the Certificates held by them.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Surviving Corporation nor the Paying
Agent shall be liable to any holder of a Share for any Merger Consideration
delivered in respect of such Share to a public official pursuant to any
abandoned property, escheat or other similar law.
(d) At the close of business on the day of the Effective Time, the
stock transfer books of the Company shall be closed and thereafter there shall
be no further registration of transfers of Shares on the records of the Company.
From and after the Effective Time, the holders of Shares outstanding immediately
prior to the Effective Time shall cease to have any rights with respect to such
Shares except as otherwise provided herein or by applicable law.
SECTION 2.11. Withholding Rights. The Surviving Corporation or the
Paying Agent shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the consideration
otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement to any holder of Shares such
amounts that the Surviving Corporation or the Paying Agent is required to deduct
and withhold with respect to the making of such payment under the United States
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), or any provision of
state, local or foreign tax law. To the extent that amounts are so withheld by
the Surviving Corporation or the Paying Agent, such amounts shall be treated for
all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the holder of the Shares
in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made by the Surviving
Corporation or the Paying Agent.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
The Company hereby represents and warrants to Parent and Purchaser
that, except as set forth in the Company SEC Reports (as defined herein) or the
disclosure schedule dated the date hereof and attached hereto (the "Disclosure
Schedule"), it being understood that disclosure on the Disclosure Schedule shall
be deemed disclosure respecting all sections of the Agreement:
SECTION 3.01. Organization and Qualification. Each of the Company and
its Subsidiaries is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation and has the
requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties
and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted. Each of the Company
and its Subsidiaries has all necessary licenses, permits, authorizations, and
governmental approvals to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on
its business as it is currently being conducted, except where the failure to
have such licenses, permits, authorizations and governmental approvals would
not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect
(as hereinafter defined). Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is duly
qualified and in good standing to do business in each jurisdiction in which the
nature of the business conducted by it or the ownership or leasing of its
properties makes such qualification necessary, other than where the failure to
be so duly qualified and in good standing would not have a Company Material
Adverse Effect. The term "Company Material Adverse Effect," as used in this
Agreement, means any change or effect that, individually or when taken together
with all other such changes or effects, is or is reasonably likely to be
materially adverse to the financial condition, business, or results of
operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
SECTION 3.02. Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws. The Company
has heretofore furnished to Parent a complete and correct copy of the
Certificate of Incorporation and the By-laws, each as amended to date, of the
Company. Such Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws are in full force and
effect. None of the Company and its Subsidiaries is in violation of any
provision of its Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws.
SECTION 3.03. Capitalization. The authorized capital stock of the
Company consists of 300,000,000 Shares and 20,000,000 shares of preferred stock,
par value $.001 per share ("Preferred Stock"). As of December 31, 1998, (i)
92,995,735 Shares were issued and outstanding, all of which were validly issued,
fully paid and nonassessable, (ii) no Shares were held in the treasury of the
Company, (iii)7,627,173 Shares were authorized for future issuance (with respect
to which options to acquire 7,627,173 Shares were issued and outstanding)
pursuant to employee stock options or stock incentive rights granted pursuant to
the Company's Option Plans and (iv) no shares of Preferred Stock are issued and
outstanding. Except as set forth in Section3.03 of the Disclosure Schedule or as
otherwise contemplated by this Agreement, there are no options, warrants or
other rights, agreements, arrangements or commitments of any character relating
to the issued or unissued capital stock of the Company or any Subsidiary or
obligating the Company or any Subsidiary to issue or sell any shares of capital
stock of, or other equity interests in, the Company or any Subsidiary. All
shares of capital stock of the Company and any Subsidiary subject to issuance as
aforesaid, upon issuance on the terms and conditions specified in the
instruments pursuant to which they are issuable, will be duly authorized,
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. There are no outstanding
contractual obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary to repurchase, redeem
or otherwise acquire any shares of capital stock of the Company or any
Subsidiary or to provide funds to, or make any investment (in the form of a
loan, capital contribution or otherwise) in, any person.
SECTION 3.04. Authority Relative to This Agreement. (a)The Company has
all necessary corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this
Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate the
Transactions. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and
the consummation by the Company of the Transactions have been duly and validly
authorized by all necessary corporate action, and no other corporate proceedings
on the part of the Company are necessary to authorize this Agreement or to
consummate the Transactions (other than, with respect to the Merger, the
approval and adoption of this Agreement by the affirmative vote of a majority of
the then outstanding Shares, if and to the extent required by applicable law,
and the filing and recordation of appropriate merger documents as required by
Delaware Law). This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered
by the Company and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by
Parent and Purchaser, constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the
Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms.
(b) The Company hereby represents that (i)the Special Committee has
been duly authorized and constituted, (ii)the Special Committee, at a meeting
thereof duly called and held on May 14, 1999, determined that this Agreement and
the Transactions are fair to and in the best interests of the stockholders of
the Company (other than the Parent and its affiliates), and (iii)the Board of
Directors of the Company, at a meeting thereof duly called and held on May 14,
1999, (A) determined that this Agreement and the Transactions are fair to and in
the best interests of the stockholders of the Company, (B) determined that it is
advisable for the Company to enter into, and, if and to the extent required by
applicable law, for the stockholders of the Company to approve and adopt, this
Agreement and the Transactions, (C) approved and adopted this Agreement and the
Transactions, including the Offer and the Merger and (D) recommended that the
stockholders of the Company tender their shares Pursuant to the Offer and, if
and to the extent required by applicable law, approve and adopt this Agreement
and the Merger.
SECTION 3.05. No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents. (a) The
execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company do not, and the
performance of this Agreement by the Company will not, (i)conflict with or
violate the Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws of the Company or any
Subsidiary, (ii)assuming that all consents, approvals, authorizations, and other
actions described in subsection (b) have been obtained or made, conflict with or
violate any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree applicable to the
Company or any Subsidiary or by which any property or asset of the Company or
any Subsidiary is bound or affected or (iii) except as set forth on Section 3.05
of the Disclosure Schedule, result in any breach of or constitute a default (or
an event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default)
under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or
cancellation of, or require payment under, or result in the creation of any
Encumbrance on any of the properties or assets of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries pursuant to, or trigger any right of first refusal under, any note,
bond, mortgage, indenture, contract, agreement, lease, license, permit,
franchise or other instrument or obligation to which the Company or any
Subsidiary is a party or by which the Company or any Subsidiary or any of their
respective properties is bound, except for any thereof that would not have a
Company Material Adverse Effect. The restrictions on business combinations
contained in Section 203(a) of Delaware Law will not apply to Parent, Purchaser
or their respective affiliates as a result of this Agreement or the
Transactions.
(b) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company do
not, and the performance of this Agreement by the Company will not, require any
consent, approval, authorization or permit of, or filing with or notification
to, any governmental or regulatory authority, domestic or foreign, except for
applicable requirements, if any, of the Exchange Act, state securities or "blue
sky" laws ("Blue Sky Laws"), and filing and recordation of appropriate merger
documents as required by Delaware Law.
SECTION 3.06. SEC Filings; Financial Statements. (a) The Company has
filed all forms, reports and documents required to be filed by it with the SEC
since December 31, 1996, and has heretofore made available to Parent, in the
form filed with the SEC, (i) its Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the fiscal
years ended December31, 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively, (ii) allproxy
statements relating to the Company's meetings of stockholders (whether annual or
special) held since December 31, 1996, and (iii)all other forms, reports and
other registration statements (other than Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q) filed
by the Company with the SEC since December 31, 1996 (the forms, reports and
other documents referred to in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above being referred
to herein, collectively, as the "SEC Reports"). The SEC Reports (i) were
prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Securities Act"), and the Exchange Act, as the case may be, and
the rules and regulations thereunder,(ii) did not at the time they were filed
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading, and (iii) were filed in a timely manner. No Subsidiary of the
Company was or is required to file any form, report or other document with the
SEC.
(b) Each of the financial statements (including, in each case, any
notes thereto) contained in the SEC Reports (i)was prepared in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis
throughout the periods indicated (except as may be indicated in the notes
thereto) and each fairly presented in all material respects the consolidated
financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the Company and the
consolidated Subsidiaries as at the respective dates thereof and for the
respective periods indicated therein, except that any unaudited interim
financial statements were or will be subject to normal and recurring year-end
adjustments that did not and are not expected, individually or in the aggregate,
to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(c) The Company has no liabilities or obligations of any nature,
except:(i) as and to the extent set forth on the balance sheet of the Company as
at March 31, 1999, including the notes thereto (the "1999 Balance Sheet"), (ii)
as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse
Effect and (iii) liabilities and obligations incurred in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice since March 31, 1999 and which would not
have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(d) Since March 31, 1999, there has not been any Company Material
Adverse Effect, except for changes that affect the economy in general or the
industry in which the Company operates.
SECTION 3.07. Absence of Litigation. Except as disclosed in the SEC
Reports filed on or before the date hereof, there are no suits, arbitrations,
mediations, complaints, claims, actions, proceedings or investigations pending
or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any
Subsidiary, before any court, arbitrator or administrative, governmental or
regulatory authority or body, domestic or foreign, that (a)individually or in
the aggregate, would have a Company Material Adverse Effect or (b)seek to delay
or prevent the consummation of the Merger. Neither the Company nor any
Subsidiary nor any of their properties is subject to any order, writ, judgment,
injunction, decree, determination or award having a Company Material Adverse
Effect.
SECTION 3.08. Compliance. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in
conflict with, or in default or violation of, (a)any law, rule, regulation,
order, judgment or decree applicable to the Company or any Subsidiary or by
which any property or asset of the Company or any Subsidiary is bound or
affected or (b)any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, contract, agreement, lease,
license, permit, franchise or other instrument or obligation to which the
Company or any Subsidiary is a party or by which the Company or any Subsidiary
is bound or affected, except for any such conflicts, defaults or violations that
would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse
Effect.
SECTION 3.09. Intellectual Property Rights. The Company and its
Subsidiaries own or hold adequate licenses or other rights to use all material
trade names, trademarks, brand names, trade secrets, service marks, copyrights,
publicity rights, franchises and other proprietary intellectual property
(collectively, the "Intellectual Property"), including all contracts, agreements
and licenses relating thereto, necessary for them to conduct their respective
businesses in all material respects as they are being conducted. No proceedings
have been instituted against or notices received by the Company or any
Subsidiary that are currently unresolved alleging that the Company or any
Subsidiary has infringed or is now infringing on any Intellectual Property
belonging to any other person, firm or corporation, except as would not have a
Company Material Adverse Effect. None of the Company nor any Subsidiary has
received any notice, nor does the Company know of, any conflict or claimed
conflict with respect to the rights of others to the use any of their
Intellectual Property, except as would not have a Company Material Adverse
Effect.
SECTION 3.10. Offer Documents; Schedule 14D-9; Proxy Statement. The
information supplied by the Company for inclusion in the Schedule 14D-9 and the
Offer Documents shall, at the respective times the Schedule 14D-9 or the Offer
Documents are filed with the SEC or are first published, sent or given to
shareholders of the Company, as the case may be, contain any untrue statement of
a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. The information
supplied by the Company for inclusion in the proxy statement to be sent to the
stockholders of the Company in connection with the Stockholders' Meeting (as
defined in Section5.01) or the information statement to be sent to such
stockholders, as appropriate (such proxy statement or information statement, as
amended or supplemented, being referred to herein as the "Proxy Statement"),
shall not, at the date the Proxy Statement (or any amendment or supplement
thereto) is first mailed to stockholders of the Company, at the time of the
Stockholders' Meeting and at the Effective Time, be false or misleading with
respect to any material fact, or omit to state any material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in the
light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading or
necessary to correct any statement in any earlier communication with respect to
the solicitation of proxies for the Stockholders' Meeting which shall have
become false or misleading. The Schedule 14D-9, Proxy Statement and the Offer
Documents shall comply in all material respects as to form with the requirements
of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder except that no
representation or warranty is made by the Company with respect to statements
made or incorporated by reference therein based on information supplied by
Parent or Purchaser for inclusion or incorporation by reference therein.
SECTION 3.11. Brokers. No broker, finder or investment banker (other
than Lazard Freres) is entitled to any brokerage, finder's or other fee or
commission in connection with the Transactions based upon arrangements made by
or on behalf of the Company. The Company has heretofore furnished to Parent a
complete and correct copy of all agreements between the Company and Lazard
Freres pursuant to which such firm would be entitled to any payment relating to
the Transactions.
SECTION 3.12. Opinion of Financial Advisor. The Special Committee has
received the opinion of Lazard Freres dated May 14, 1999 that, as of the date of
such opinion, the Per Share Amount to be received by the stockholders of the
Company pursuant to this Agreement is fair to such stockholders of the Company
(other than Parent and its affiliates) from a financial point of view and such
opinion has not been withdrawn. A copy of such opinion has been delivered to the
Parent.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND PURCHASER
Parent and Purchaser hereby, jointly and severally, represent and
warrant to the Company that:
SECTION 4.01. Corporate Organization. Each of Parent and Purchaser is
a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the
laws of the jurisdiction of its organization.
SECTION 4.02. Authority Relative to This Agreement. Each of Parent and
Purchaser has all necessary corporate power and authority to execute and deliver
this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate the
Transactions. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by Parent and
Purchaser and the consummation by Parent and Purchaser of the Transactions have
been duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate action and no other
corporate proceedings on the part of Parent or Purchaser are necessary to
authorize this Agreement or to consummate the Transactions (other than, with
respect to the Merger, the filing and recordation of appropriate merger
documents as required by Delaware Law). This Agreement has been duly and validly
executed and delivered by Parent and Purchaser and, assuming the due
authorization, execution and delivery by the Company, constitutes a legal, valid
and binding obligation of each of Parent and Purchaser enforceable against each
of Parent and Purchaser in accordance with its terms.
SECTION 4.03. No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents. (a) The
execution and delivery of this Agreement by Parent and Purchaser do not, and the
performance of this Agreement by Parent and Purchaser will not, (i) conflict
with or violate the Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws of either Parent or
Purchaser, or (ii)assuming that all consents, approvals, authorizations, and
other actions described in subsection (b) have been made, conflict with or
violate any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree applicable to
Parent or Purchaser or by which any property or asset of either of them is bound
or affected.
(b) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by Parent and
Purchaser do not, and the performance of this Agreement by Parent and Purchaser
will not, require any consent, approval, authorization or permit of, or filing
with or notification to, any governmental or regulatory authority, domestic or
foreign, except (i) for applicable requirements, if any, of the Exchange Act,
Blue Sky Laws, and filing and recordation of appropriate merger documents as
required by Delaware Law and (ii) where failure to obtain such consents,
approvals, authorizations or permits, or to make such filings or notifications,
would not prevent or delay consummation of the Merger, or otherwise prevent
Parent or Purchaser from performing their respective obligations under this
Agreement.
SECTION 4.04. Financing. Each of Parent and Purchaser has available to
it sufficient funds to acquire all the outstanding Shares in the Merger and the
related fees and expenses.
SECTION 4.05. Offer Documents; Proxy Statement. The information
supplied by Parent and Purchaser for inclusion in the Offer Documents will not,
at the time the Offer Documents are filed with the SEC or are first published,
sent or given to shareholders of the Company, as the case may be, contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein,
in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. The
information supplied by Parent and Purchaser for inclusion in the Proxy
Statement will not, on the date the Proxy Statement (or any amendment or
supplement thereto) is first mailed to stockholders of the Company, at the time
of the Stockholders' Meeting (as defined below) or at the Effective Time,
contain any statement which, at such time and in light of the circumstances
under which it is made, is false or misleading with respect to any material
fact, or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary in order to make the statements therein not false or misleading or
necessary to correct any statement in any earlier communication with respect to
the solicitation of proxies for the Stockholders' Meeting which shall have
become false or misleading. The Offer Documents shall comply in all material
respects as to form with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and
regulations thereunder.
SECTION 4.06. Brokers. No broker, finder or investment banker is
entitled to any brokerage, finder's or other fee or commission in connection
with the Transactions based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of Parent or
Purchaser.
ARTICLE V
COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
SECTION 5.01. Affirmative Covenants of the Company. The Company hereby
covenants and agrees that, prior to the Effective Time, unless otherwise
expressly contemplated by this Agreement or consented to in writing by Parent,
the Company will and will cause its Subsidiaries to (a)operate its business in
the usual and ordinary course consistent with past practices; (b)use its
reasonable best efforts to preserve substantially intact its business
organization, maintain its rights and franchises, retain the services of its
respective principal officers and key employees and maintain its relationships
with its respective principal customers, suppliers and other persons with which
it or any Subsidiary has significant business relations; and (c)use its
reasonable best efforts to maintain and keep its properties and assets in as
good repair and condition as at present, ordinary wear and tear excepted.
ARTICLE VI
ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
SECTION 6.01. Stockholders' Meeting. If required by applicable law in
order to consummate the Merger, the Company, acting through the Board, shall in
accordance with Delaware law and its Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws,
take all necessary action to duly call, give notice of, convene and hold an
annual or special meeting of its stockholders as soon as practicable for the
purpose of considering and taking action on this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby (the "Stockholders' Meeting"). At the Stockholders' Meeting,
Parent and Purchaser shall cause all Shares then owned by them and their
subsidiaries to be voted in favor of the approval and adoption of this Agreement
and the transactions contemplated hereby. In the event a Stockholders' Meeting
is called, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to solicit from
stockholders of the Company proxies in favor of the approval and adoption of the
Merger Agreement and to secure the vote or consent of stockholders required by
Delaware Law to approve and adopt the Merger Agreement, unless otherwise
required by the applicable fiduciary duties of the directors of the Company or
of the Company's directors constituting the Special Committee, as determined by
such directors in good faith, and after consultation with independent legal
counsel (which may include the Company's regularly engaged legal counsel).
SECTION 6.02. Proxy Statement. If required by applicable law, as soon
as practicable following consummation of the Offer, Parent, Purchaser and the
Company shall file the Proxy Statement with the SEC under the Exchange Act, and
shall use its best efforts to have the Proxy Statement cleared by the SEC.
Parent, Purchaser and the Company shall cooperate with each other in the
preparation of the Proxy Statement, and the Company shall notify Parent of the
receipt of any comments of the SEC with respect to the Proxy Statement and of
any requests by the SEC for any amendment or supplement thereto or for
additional information and shall provide to Parent promptly copies of all
correspondence between the Company or any representative of the Company and the
SEC. The Company shall give Parent and its counsel the opportunity to review the
Proxy Statement prior to its being filed with the SEC and shall give Parent and
its counsel the opportunity to review all amendments and supplements to the
Proxy Statement and all responses to requests for additional information and
replies to comments prior to their being filed with, or sent to, the SEC. Each
of the Company, Parent and Purchaser agrees to use its reasonable efforts, after
consultation with the other parties hereto, to respond promptly to all such
comments of and requests by the SEC and to cause the Proxy Statement and all
required amendments and supplements thereto to be mailed to the holders of
Shares entitled to vote at the Stockholders' Meeting at the earliest practicable
time.
SECTION 6.03. Access to Information. From the date hereof to the
Effective Time, the Company shall, and shall cause the officers, directors,
employees, auditors and agents of the Company to, afford the officers, employees
and agents of Parent and Purchaser complete access at all reasonable times to
the officers, employees, agents, properties, offices, plants and other
facilities, books and records of the Company, and shall furnish Parent and
Purchaser with all financial, operating and other data and information as Parent
or Purchaser, through its officers, employees or agents, may reasonably request.
SECTION 6.04. Directors' and Officers' Indemnification and Insurance.
(a)The By-laws of the Surviving Corporation shall contain provisions no less
favorable with respect to indemnification than are set forth in ArticleXII of
the By-laws of the Company, which provisions shall not be amended, repealed or
otherwise modified for a period of six years from the Effective Time in any
manner that would affect adversely the rights thereunder of individuals who at
the Effective Time were directors or officers, employees, fiduciaries or agents
of the Company in respect of actions or omissions occurring at or prior to the
Effective Time, unless such modification shall be required by law.
(b) From and after the Effective Time, Parent and the Surviving
Corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware Law, indemnify
and hold harmless, each present and former director and officer of the Company
(collectively, the "Indemnified Parties") against all costs and expenses
(including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines, losses, claims, damages,
liabilities and settlement amounts paid in connection with any claim, action,
suit, proceeding or investigation (whether arising before or after the Effective
Time), based on the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the
Company and arising out of or pertaining to any action or omission occurring at
or before the Effective Time (and shall promptly pay any expenses in advance of
the final disposition of such action or proceeding to each Indemnified Party to
the fullest extent permitted under Delaware Law, upon receipt from the
Indemnified Party to whom expenses are advanced of any undertaking to repay such
advances required under Delaware Law). In the event of any such actual or
threatened claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation, (i) the Surviving
Corporation shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel selected by
the Indemnified Parties, which counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the
Surviving Corporation, promptly after statements therefor are received and shall
pay all other reasonable expenses in advance of the final disposition of such
action, (ii) the Surviving Corporation shall cooperate and use all reasonable
efforts to assist in the vigorous defense of any such matter and (iii) to the
extent any determination is required to be made with respect to whether any
Indemnified Party's conduct complies with the standards set forth under Delaware
Law, such determination shall be made by independent legal counsel selected by
the Indemnified Party and reasonably acceptable to the Surviving Corporation;
provided, however, that the Surviving Corporation shall not be liable for any
settlement effected without its written consent (which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld or delayed); and provided further that the Surviving
Corporation shall not be obligated pursuant to this Section 6.04(b) to pay the
fees and expenses of more than one counsel (plus appropriate local counsel) for
all Indemnified Parties in any single action except to the extent, as determined
by counsel to the Indemnified Parties, that two or more of such Indemnified
Parties shall have conflicting interests in the outcome of such action, in which
case such additional counsel (including local counsel) as may be required to
avoid any such conflict or likely conflict may be retained by the Indemnified
Parties at the expense of the Surviving Corporation.
(c) The Surviving Corporation shall use its reasonable efforts to
maintain in effect for three years from the Effective Time, if available, the
current directors' and officers' liability insurance policies maintained by the
Company (provided that the Surviving Corporation may substitute therefor
policies of at least the same coverage containing terms and conditions which are
not materially less favorable) with respect to matters occurring prior to the
Effective Time; provided, however, that in no event shall the Surviving
Corporation be required to expend pursuant to this Section 6.04(c) more than an
amount per year equal to 150% of current annual premiums paid by the Company for
such insurance.
(d) In the event the Company or the Surviving Corporation or any of
their respective successors or assigns (i) consolidates with or merges into any
other person and shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation or entity
of such consolidation or merger or (ii) transfers all or substantially all of
its properties and assets to any person, then, and in each such case, proper
provision shall be made so that the successors and assigns of the Company or the
Surviving Corporation, as the case may be, or at Parent's option, Parent, shall
assume the obligations set forth in this Section 6.04.
(e) Parent shall pay all reasonable expenses incurred by any
Indemnified Party in connection with the enforcement of the provisions of this
Section6.04.
SECTION 6.05. Notification of Certain Matters. (a) The Company shall
give prompt notice to Parent, and Parent shall give prompt notice to the
Company, of (i)the occurrence, or nonoccurrence, of any event the occurrence, or
nonoccurrence, of which would be likely to cause any representation or warranty
contained in this Agreement to be untrue or inaccurate and (ii)any failure of
the Company, Parent or Purchaser, as the case may be, to comply with or satisfy
any covenant, condition or agreement to be complied with or satisfied by it
hereunder; provided, however, that the delivery of any notice pursuant to this
Section6.05 shall not limit or otherwise affect the remedies available hereunder
to the party receiving such notice.
(b) The Company shall give prompt written notice to Parent of any
proposal, offer or other communication from any person (i) relating to any
acquisition or purchase of all or any portion of the capital stock of the
Company or any Subsidiary or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary, (ii) to
enter into any business combination with the Company or any Subsidiary or (iii)
to enter into any other extraordinary business transaction involving or
otherwise relating to the Company or any subsidiary. The Company shall notify
Parent promptly if any such proposal or offer, or any inquiry or other contact
with any person with respect thereto, is made and shall, in any such notice to
Parent, indicate in reasonable detail the identity of the person making such
proposal, offer, inquiry or contact and the terms and conditions of such
proposal, offer, inquiry or other contact.
SECTION 6.06. Public Announcements. Parent and the Company shall each
obtain the prior consent of each other before issuing any press release or
otherwise making any public statements with respect to this Agreement or any
Transaction and shall not issue any such press release or make any such public
statement without such prior consent, except as may be required by law or any
listing agreement with a national securities exchange to which Parent or the
Company is a party.
SECTION 6.07. Further Action. Subject to the terms and conditions
herein provided, each of the parties hereto covenants and agrees to use all
reasonable efforts to deliver or cause to be delivered such documents and other
papers and to take or cause to be taken such further actions as may be
necessary, proper or advisable under applicable laws to consummate and make
effective the Transactions, including the Merger.
ARTICLE VII
CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER
SECTION 7.01. Conditions to the Merger. The respective obligations of
each party to effect the Merger shall be subject to the satisfaction at or prior
to the Effective Time of the following conditions, any or all of which may be
waived, in whole or in part, to the extent permitted by applicable law:
(a) Stockholder Approval. This Agreement and the Transactions shall
have been approved and adopted by the affirmative vote of the stockholders of
the Company to the extent required by Delaware Law and the Certificate of
Incorporation and By-laws of the Company; and
(b) No Order. No foreign, United States or state governmental
authority or other agency or commission or foreign, United States or state court
of competent jurisdiction shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or
entered any law, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, injunction or other
order (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) which is then in effect and
has the effect of making the acquisition of Shares by Purchaser illegal or
otherwise restricting, preventing or prohibiting consummation of the Offer or
the Merger; and
(c) Offer. Purchaser or its permitted assignee shall have purchased
all Shares validly tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to the Offer; provided,
however, that this condition shall not be applicable to the obligations of
Parent or Purchaser if, in breach of this Agreement or the terms of the Offer,
Purchaser fails to purchase any Shares validly tendered and not withdrawn
pursuant to the Offer.
ARTICLE VIII
TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER
SECTION 8.01. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated and the
Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby may be abandoned at any
time prior to the Effective Time, notwithstanding any requisite approval and
adoption of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby by the
stockholders of the Company:
(a) by mutual written consent duly authorized by the Boards of
Directors of Parent, Purchaser and the Company, if such termination is also
approved by the Special Committee;
(b) by either Parent, Purchaser or the Company if (i) the Effective
Time shall not have occurred on or before December 31, 1999; provided, however,
that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 8.01(b) shall not
be available to any party whose failure to fulfill any obligation under this
Agreement has been the cause of, or resulted in, the failure of the Effective
Time to occur on or before such date or (ii) any court of competent jurisdiction
or other governmental authority shall have issued an order, decree, ruling or
taken any other action restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the
Merger and such order, decree, ruling or other action shall have become final
and nonappealable;
(c) by Parent, if (i) due to an occurrence or circumstance that would
result in a failure to satisfy any condition set forth in Annex A hereto,
Purchaser shall have (A) failed to commence the Offer within 60 days following
the date of this Agreement, (B) terminated the Offer without having accepted any
Shares for payment thereunder, or (C) failed to pay for the Shares validly
tendered pursuant to the Offer within 90 days following the commencement of the
Offer, unless such termination or failure to pay for Shares shall have been
caused by or resulted from the failure of Parent or Purchaser to perform in any
material respect any covenant or agreement of either of them contained in this
Agreement or the material breach by Parent or Purchaser of any representation or
warranty of either of them contained in this Agreement or (ii) prior to the
purchase of any Shares validly tendered pursuant to the Offer, the Special
Committee shall have withdrawn or modified in a manner that is, in the
reasonable judgment of Parent, materially adverse to Parent or Purchaser its
approval or recommendation of this Agreement, the Offer, the Merger or any other
Transaction or shall have recommended another merger, consolidation or business
combination involving, or acquisition of, the Company or its assets or another
tender offer for Shares, or shall have resolved to do any of the foregoing; or
(d) by the Company, upon approval of the Special Committee, if due to
an occurrence or circumstance that would result in a failure to satisfy any
condition set forth in Annex A hereto, Purchaser shall have (i) failed to
commence the Offer within 60 days following the date of this Agreement,
(ii)terminated the Offer without having accepted any Shares for payment
thereunder, or (iii)failed to pay for the Shares validly tendered pursuant to
the Offer within 90 days following the commencement of the Offer, unless such
termination or failure to pay for Shares shall have been caused by or resulted
from the failure of the Company to perform in any material respect any covenant
or agreement of it contained in this Agreement or the material breach by the
Company of any representation or warranty of it contained in this Agreement; or
(e) by the Company, upon approval of the Special Committee, if any
representation or warranty of Parent and Purchaser in this Agreement which is
qualified as to materiality shall not be true and correct in all respects or any
such representation or warranty that is not so qualified shall not be true and
correct in any material respect, in each case as if such representation or
warranty was made as of such time on or after the date of this Agreement, or
Parent or Purchaser shall have failed to perform in any material respect any
obligation or to comply in any material respect with any agreement or covenant
of Parent or Purchaser to be performed or complied with by it under this
Agreement; provided that if such material breach or failure to perform is
curable by Parent or Purchaser through the exercise of its reasonable efforts
and for so long as Parent or Purchaser continues to exercise such reasonable
efforts, the Company may not terminate this Agreement under this Section
8.01(e).
The right of any party hereto to terminate this Agreement pursuant to
this Section 8.01 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless
of any investigation made by or on behalf of any party hereto, any person
controlling any such party or any of their respective officers or directors,
whether prior to or after the execution of this Agreement.
SECTION 8.02. Effect of Termination. In the event of the termination
of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.01, this Agreement shall forthwith
become void, and there shall be no liability on the part of any party hereto,
except as set forth in Sections9.01 and 9.11; provided, however that nothing
contained herein shall relieve any party from liability for wilful breach of
this Agreement.
SECTION 8.03. Amendment. This Agreement may be amended by the parties
hereto by action taken by or on behalf of their respective Boards of Directors
at any time prior to the Effective Time; provided, however, that, after the
approval and adoption of this Agreement and the Transactions contemplated hereby
by the stockholders of the Company, no amendment may be made which would reduce
the amount or change the type of consideration into which each Share shall be
converted upon consummation of the Merger, imposes conditions to the Merger
other than set forth in Article VII or would otherwise amend or change the terms
and conditions of the Merger in a manner materially adverse to the holders of
the Shares, other than Parent and its affiliates; and provided further that such
amendment is also approved by the Special Committee. This Agreement may not be
amended except by an instrument in writing signed by the parties hereto.
SECTION 8.04. Waiver. At any time prior to the Effective Time, any
party hereto may (i) extend the time for the performance of any obligation or
other act of any other party hereto, (ii) waive any inaccuracy in the
representations and warranties contained herein or in any document delivered
pursuant hereto and (iii) waive compliance with any agreement or condition
contained herein; provided, however, that, if the Company seeks to make such
extension or waiver as provided in (i), (ii) or (iii) above, it must first
obtain the approval of the Special Committee. Any such extension or waiver shall
be valid if set forth in an instrument in writing signed by the party or parties
to be bound thereby.
ARTICLE IX
GENERAL PROVISIONS
SECTION 9.01. Non-Survival of Representations, Warranties and
Agreements. The representations, warranties and agreements in this Agreement
shall terminate at the Effective Time or upon the termination of this Agreement
pursuant to Section 9.01, as the case may be, except that the agreements set
forth in Articles II and this Article IX and Section6.04 shall survive the
Effective Time indefinitely and those set forth in this Article IX shall survive
termination indefinitely.
SECTION 9.02. Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands and
other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given or made
(and shall be deemed to have been duly given or made upon receipt) by delivery
in person, by overnight courier service, by facsimile (followed by delivery of a
copy via overnight courier service) or by registered or certified mail (postage
prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective parties at the following
addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified in a
notice given in accordance with this Section 9.02):
(a) if to the Parent or Purchaser:
Viacom International Inc.
c/o Viacom Inc.
1515 Broadway
New York, NY 10036
Attention: General Counsel
Telecopier: (212) 258-6099
with a copy to:
Shearman & Sterling
599 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10022
Attention: Creighton O'M. Condon, Esq.
Telecopier: (212) 848-7179
(b) if to the Company:
Spelling Entertainment Group Inc.
5700 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Attention: President
Telecopier: (323) 965-5870
with a copy to:
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
One Rodney Square, 7th Floor
Wilmington, Delaware 19801
Attention: Robert Pincus, Esq.
Telecopier: (302) 651-3001
SECTION 9.03. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the
term:
(a) "affiliate" means a person that directly or indirectly, through
one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common
control with, the first mentioned person;
(b) "business day" means any day on which the principal offices of the
SEC in Washington, D.C. are open to accept filings, or, in the case of
determining a date when any payment is due, any day on which banks are not
required or authorized by law or executive order to close in the City of New
York;
(c) "Encumbrance" means any security interest, pledge, mortgage, lien,
charge, adverse claim of ownership or use, or other encumbrance of any kind.
(d) "person" means an individual, corporation, partnership,
association, trust, unincorporated organization, other entity or group (as
defined in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act);
(e) "Subsidiary" or "Subsidiaries" means any corporation, partnership,
joint venture or other legal entity of which the Company or any Subsidiary of
the Company, as the case may be (either alone or through or together with any
other Subsidiary), owns, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the stock or
other equity interests the holders of which are generally entitled to vote for
the election of the board of directors or other governing body of such
corporation or other legal entity; and
SECTION 9.04. Severability. If any term or other provision of this
Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of law,
or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall
nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal
substance of the Transactions is not affected in any manner materially adverse
to any party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is
invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall
negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original
intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in
order that the Transactions be consummated as originally contemplated to the
fullest extent possible.
SECTION 9.05. Entire Agreement; Assignment. This Agreement constitutes
the entire agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof
and supersedes all prior agreements and undertakings, both written and oral,
among the parties, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof.
This Agreement shall not be assigned by operation of law or otherwise, except
that Parent and Purchaser may assign all or any of their rights and obligations
hereunder to any affiliate of Parent provided that no such assignment shall
relieve the assigning party of its obligations hereunder if such assignee does
not perform such obligations.
SECTION 9.06. Parties in Interest. This Agreement shall be binding
upon and inure solely to the benefit of each party hereto, and nothing in this
Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other
person any right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason
of this Agreement, other than Section 6.04 (which is intended to be for the
benefit of the persons covered thereby and may be enforced by such persons).
SECTION 9.07. Specific Performance. The parties hereto agree that
irreparable damage would occur in the event any provision of this Agreement was
not performed in accordance with the terms hereof and that the parties shall be
entitled to specific performance of the terms hereof, in addition to any other
remedy at law or equity.
SECTION 9.08. Governing Law. Except to the extent that Delaware Law
applies to these Transactions, this Agreement shall be governed by, and
construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York applicable to
contracts executed in and to be performed in that State.
SECTION 9.09. Headings. The descriptive headings contained in this
Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect in
any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
SECTION 9.10. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or
more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts,
each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original but all of which
taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
SECTION 9.11. Fees and Expenses. All fees and expenses incurred in
connection with this Agreement and the Transactions contemplated hereby shall be
paid by Parent.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Parent, Purchaser and the Company have caused this
Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above by their respective
officers thereunto duly authorized.
SPELLING ENTERTAINMENT GROUP INC.
By
------------------------------
Name:
Title:
VIACOM INTERNATIONAL INC.
By
------------------------------
Name:
Title:
VSEG ACQUISITION INC.
By
------------------------------
Name:
Title:
ANNEX A
CONDITIONS TO THE OFFER
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Offer, Purchaser shall not
be required to accept for payment or, subject to the applicable rules and
regulations of the SEC, including Rule 14e-1(c) under the Exchange Act, pay for
any Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer, and may terminate or amend the Offer
in a manner consistent with the terms of the Merger Agreement and may postpone
the acceptance for payment of or the payment for any Shares tendered in a manner
consistent with the terms of the Merger Agreement, if at any time on or after
the date of this Agreement and prior to the acceptance for payment of any
Shares, any of the following conditions shall exist:
(a) there shall be any statute, rule or regulation, or decree,
order or injunction, promulgated, enacted, entered or enforced by any
United States federal or state government, or other governmental
entity which would (i) make the acquisition by the Purchaser of a
material portion of the Shares illegal, or (ii) otherwise prohibit or
restrict consummation of the Offer or the Merger (each a "Governmental
Restriction"); provided, however, that in order to invoke this
condition, Parent and the Purchaser shall have used their reasonable
best efforts to prevent such Governmental Restriction or ameliorate
the effects thereof; and provided further, that if the Governmental
Restriction is not a final and non-appealable decree, order or
injunction of a court of competent jurisdiction, Purchaser may not by
virtue of this condition alone amend or terminate the Offer, but may
only extend the Offer and thereby postpone acceptance for payment or
purchase of Shares;
(b) (i) the Special Committee shall have withdrawn or modified in
a manner that is, in the reasonable judgment of Parent, materially
adverse to Parent or Purchaser (including by way of any amendment to
the Schedule14D-9) its recommendation of the Offer, the Merger or this
Agreement, or (ii)the Special Committee shall have resolved to do any
of the foregoing;
(c) any representation or warranty of the Company in this
Agreement, (i)which is qualified as to Company Material Adverse Effect
shall not be true and correct, subject to such Company Material
Adverse Effect qualifications, in all respects or (ii) any such
representation or warranty that is not so qualified shall not be true
and correct except to the extent that the failure of such
representations and warranties to be true and correct could not
reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, in
each case as if such representation and warranty was made as of such
time on or after the date of this Agreement and except that those
representations and warranties that address matters only as of a
particular date shall not be true and correct, subject to the
qualifications described above, as of such date;
(d) the Company shall have breached or failed to perform in any
material respect any obligation or to comply in any material respect
with any agreement or covenant of the Company to be performed or
complied with by it under this Agreement;
(e) this Agreement shall have been terminated in accordance with
its terms; or
(f) Parent, Purchaser and the Company (with the approval of the
Special Committee) shall have agreed that Purchaser shall terminate
the Offer or postpone the acceptance for payment of or the payment for
Shares thereunder;
which, in the reasonable judgment of Purchaser in any such case, and regardless
of the circumstances (excluding for purposes of clauses (c) and (d), any action
or inaction by Parent or any of its affiliates) giving rise to any such
condition, makes it inadvisable to proceed with such acceptance for payment or
payment.
The foregoing conditions are for the sole benefit of Parent and
Purchaser and may be asserted by Parent or Purchaser regardless of the
circumstances giving rise to any such condition or may be waived by Parent or
Purchaser in whole or in part at any time and from time to time in their sole
discretion. The failure by Parent or Purchaser at any time to exercise any of
the foregoing rights shall not be deemed a waiver of any such right; the waiver
of any such right with respect to particular facts and circumstances shall not
be deemed a waiver with respect to any other facts and circumstances; and each
such right shall be deemed an ongoing right that may be asserted at any time and
from time to time.
Exhibit A to the
Merger Agreement
AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
SPELLING ENTERTAINMENT GROUP INC.
As of the Effective Time, the Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving
Corporation shall be amended and restated by deleting Articles I through XII
thereof in their entirety and replacing them with the following:
ARTICLE I
The name of the Corporation is: Spelling Entertainment Group Inc.
ARTICLE II
The address of its registered office in the State of Delaware is 1013 Centre
Road, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, 19805-1297. The name of
its registered agent at such address is Corporation Service Company.
ARTICLE III
The nature of the business or purposes to be conducted or promoted is: To engage
in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
ARTICLE IV
The total number of shares of stock which the Corporation shall have authority
to issue is Two Hundred (200). All such shares are to have $.01 par value.
ARTICLE V
The Corporation is to have perpetual existence.
ARTICLE VI
In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by statute, the
Board of Directors is expressly authorized to make, alter or repeal the By-Laws
of the Corporation.
ARTICLE VII
Meetings of stockholders may be held within or without the State of Delaware, as
the By-Laws may provide. The books of the Corporation may be kept (subject to
any provisions contained in the statutes) outside the State of Delaware at such
place or places as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors
or in the By-Laws of the Corporation. Elections of Directors need not be by
written ballot unless the By-Laws of the Corporation shall so provide.
ARTICLE VIII
The personal liability of the directors of the corporation is hereby eliminated
to the fullest extent permitted by the provisions of paragraph (7) of subsection
(b) of Section 102 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as
the same may be amended and supplemented.
ARTICLE IX
(1) ACTION NOT BY OR ON BEHALF OF CORPORATION. The Corporation shall indemnify
any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil,
criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the
right of the Corporation) by reason of the fact that he is or was a Director,
officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the
request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent (including
trustee) of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other
enterprise, against judgments, fines, amounts paid in settlement and expenses
(including attorneys' fees), actually and reasonably incurred by him in
connection with such action, suit or proceedings if he acted in good faith and
in a manner reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of
the Corporation, and with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no
reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. The termination of any
action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a
plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a
presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which he
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had
reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.
(2) ACTION BY OR ON BEHALF OF CORPORATION. The Corporation shall indemnify any
person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any
threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the
Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he is
or was a Director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was
serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or
agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other
enterprise against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably
incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or
suit if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in
or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, except that no
indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to
which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Corporation
unless and only to the extent that the court in which such action or suit was
brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of
liability and in view of all of the circumstances of the case, such person is
fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnify for such expenses which the court
shall deem proper.
(3) SUCCESSFUL DEFENSE. To the extent that a present or former Director,
officer, employee or agent of the Corporation has been successful on the merits
or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in Section
1 or 2 of this Article IX, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein,
he shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually
and reasonably incurred by him in connection therewith.
(4) DETERMINATION OF RIGHTS TO INDEMNIFICATION IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. Any
indemnification under Section 1 or 2 of this Article IX (unless ordered by a
court) shall be made by the Corporation only as authorized in the specific case
upon a determination that indemnification of the present or former Director,
officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because he has met the
applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 1 or 2 of this Article IV.
Such determination shall be made, with respect to a person who is a Director or
officer at the time of such determination, (1) by a majority vote of the
Directors who are not parties to such action, suit or proceedings, even though
less than a quorum, or (2) by a committee of such Directors designated by a
majority vote of such Directors, even though less than a quorum, or (3) if there
are no such Directors, or if such Directors so direct, by independent legal
counsel in a written opinion, or (4) by the stockholders of the Corporation
entitled to vote thereon.
(5) ADVANCE PAYMENT OF EXPENSES. (a) Expenses (including attorneys' fees)
incurred by a Director or officer in defending any civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding shall be paid by the
Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or
proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Director or
officer, to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he is
not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation as authorized in this Article.
(b) Expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred by any other employee or
agent in defending any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action,
suit or proceeding may be paid by the Corporation in advance of the final
disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon such terms and conditions,
if any, as the Corporation deems appropriate.
(6) NOT EXCLUSIVE. The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by,
or granted pursuant to, the other sections of this Article IX shall not be
deemed exclusive of any other rights to which a person seeking indemnification
or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any statute, by-law, agreement,
vote of stockholders or disinterested Directors or otherwise, both as to action
in his official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such
office. Without limiting the foregoing, the Corporation is authorized to enter
into an agreement with any Director, officer, employee or agent of the
Corporation providing indemnification for such person against expenses,
including attorneys' fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement that
result from any threatened pending or completed actions, suit, or proceeding,
whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, including any action
by or in the right of the Corporation, that arises by reason of the fact that
such person is or was a Director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation,
or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer,
employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or
other enterprise, to the full extent allowed by law, except that no such
agreement shall provide for indemnification for any actions that constitute
fraud, actual dishonesty or willful misconduct.
(7) INSURANCE. The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of
any person who is or was a Director, officer, employee or agent of the
Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a
director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against him
and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such,
whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify him against
such liability under the provisions of this Article IX.
(8) CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. For the purposes of this Article IX, (A) any Director,
officer, employee or agent of the Corporation who shall serve as a director,
officer, employee or agent of any other corporation, joint venture, trust or
other enterprise of which the Corporation, directly or indirectly, is or was a
stockholder or creditor, or in which the Corporation is or was in any way
interested, or (B) any director, officer, employee or agent of any subsidiary
corporation, joint venture, trust or other enterprise wholly owned by the
Corporation, shall be deemed to be serving as such director, officer, employee
or agent at the request of the Corporation, unless the Board of Directors of the
Corporation shall determine otherwise. In all other instances where any person
shall serve as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation,
joint venture, trust or other enterprise of which the Corporation is or was a
stockholder or creditor, or in which it is or was otherwise interested, if it is
not otherwise established that such person is or was serving as such director,
officer, employee or agent at the request of the Corporation, the Board of
Directors of the Corporation may determine whether such service is or was at the
request of the Corporation, and it shall not be necessary to show any actual or
prior request for such service. For purposes of this Article IX, references to a
corporation include all constituent corporations absorbed in a consolidation or
merger as well as the resulting or surviving corporation so that any person who
is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such a constituent
corporation or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation
as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, joint venture,
trust or other enterprise shall stand in the same position under the provisions
of this Article IX with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as he
would if he had served the resulting or surviving corporation in the same
capacity. For purposes of this Article IX, references to "other enterprises"
shall include employee benefit plans; references to "fines" shall include any
excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to any employee benefit plan; and
references to "serving at the request of the Corporation" shall include any
service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation which
imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee, or
agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants, or
beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner he
reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries
of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner "not
opposed to the best interests of the Corporation" as referred to this Article
IX.
(9) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted
pursuant to, this Article IX shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or
ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer,
employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and
administrators of such a person.
ARTICLE X
The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any
provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation in the manner now or
hereafter prescribed by statute, and all rights conferred upon stockholders
herein are granted subject to this reservation.
Exhibit 99.2
--------------
VIACOM AND SPELLING ENTER INTO A DEFINITIVE MERGER AGREEMENT
New York, NY, May 17, 1999 - Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B) and Spelling
Entertainment Group Inc. (NYSE, PE: SP) announced today that they have entered
into a definitive merger agreement for the purchase by Viacom of the shares of
Spelling common stock that it does not already own for $9.75 per share in cash.
Viacom currently owns approximately 80% of Spelling's common stock.
The terms of the merger agreement represented an improvement from Viacom's prior
offer of $9.00 per share in cash. The Spelling Board of Directors approved the
merger agreement after approval by a special committee of independent directors,
which was advised by separate legal and financial advisors. The special
committee has received the opinion of its financial advisors that the cash
consideration to be received in the transaction is fair to the Spelling
shareholders other than Viacom from a financial point of view.
The merger agreement provides for the commencement of a tender offer by Viacom
by Friday, May 21, 1999. Under the terms of the merger agreement, each Spelling
share that is not purchased in the offer will be acquired by merger as soon as
practical thereafter in a second step merger, also for $9.75 per share.
Viacom intends to operate Spelling and Big Ticket Television under the umbrella
of the Viacom Entertainment Group, consolidating certain sales and back office
functions with those of its Paramount Television Group. Spelling Entertainment
Group Inc. is a leading producer and distributor of television and film
entertainment and comprises Spelling Television, Big Ticket Television,
Worldvision Enterprises and Hamilton Projects. The Company is one of the largest
producers of television programming and, through its combined libraries,
controls approximately 10,000 hours of programming for worldwide distribution.
Viacom Inc. is one of the world's largest entertainment companies and is a
leading force in nearly every segment of the international media marketplace.
The operations of Viacom include Blockbuster, MTV Networks, Paramount Pictures,
Paramount Television, Paramount Parks, Showtime Networks, Simon & Schuster, 19
television stations, and movie screens in 12 countries. Viacom also owns
half-interests in Comedy Central, UPN and UCI. National Amusements, Inc., a
closely held corporation which operates approximately 1,300 screens in the U.S.,
the U.K. and South America, is the parent company of Viacom. More information
about Viacom is available at the Company's Web site located at
http://www.viacom.com.
###
Contacts:
Viacom/Susan Duffy
(212) 258-6347
Spelling/Nancy Bushkin
(323) 965-5766